Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. – Mark 4:9

Charles Stanley, author of the book, “How to Listen to God,” once wrote, “I believe one of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn is how to listen to God. In the midst of our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, nothing more rewarding than hearing what God has to say. His voice waits to be heard and, having heard it, we are launched into the greatest, most exciting adventure we could ever imagine.”

This is absolutely true, when we wait to hear God’s voice. And, when we hear it, boy! What an adventure. It is in that moment in time, when we now have the God appointment path, or mission if you might call it, that we have a new sense of urgency of action. And, we are filled with the Holy Spirit as we take on, God’s Will.

In Mark 4, we find Jesus teaching the crowds of the farmer scattering seed. Jesus tells the us in Mark 4:3-8, “..A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

That is where we find Jesus telling us the importance in listening, when Mark writes in Mark 4:9, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” We must hear our Lord’s call on our lives by listening with our hearts, our souls, our minds, our everything and, we must also understand His message He has for us to do.

I believe, today, God wants us to hear His word, hear His voice by listening in silence, and without distraction. It is that moment when we become silent to this world’s distractions is when the Holy Spirit speaks to us through prayer, thought, feeling, signs, or however else He does, but become silent today, open your hearts to hear our Lord’s voice and listen with your hearts to understand His call.

God Bless you all as we listen to our Lord’s will.

Brother Jonathan

—————————————————————————————————————————————–Do need prayer today? Do you have something on your heart and you would like to share it? Then write to me, I am here for you as we walk in God’s will together.
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Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”— John 11:25

Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.

Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final. That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross. They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.

They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35). Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God’s original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die. But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart.

But standing there at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it.

If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God. Easter brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death.

Brother Jonathan

———————————————————————Has Brother Jonathan’s Devotion’s touched your life? Do you have something on your mind and need a prayer? Then, please write me now and tell me about it. I am here for you!
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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.“–Matthew 16:24

Next time you cannot remember why “we” must carry our own crosses and follow Jesus, just look and see what He had to do for us. Next time you think twice in sinning, remember this; sin was a act of free will and cost our Lord His life. Sin is something that we “ALL” do and is sad to say the least in why we continue to do it. Why must we continue to sin? Why can we not listen with our hearts to our Lord’s cry for repentance and not fall into temptation again and again.. and again.

Are you tired of falling? Are you tired of “giving in?” Are you tired of sinning. Are you tired of doing the same-old, day after day… month after month, year and year? Are you ready to loose yourself completely to the cross. Are you ready to fully give your everything, yes and I mean everything to follow Jesus. Let me warn you that the cross has a price my brothers and sisters. Oh yes! The cross is a very heavy and hard burden to bare, but the Lord instructs us all that we must “pick up our crosses daily and follow him…”

As we read Matthew 16:24-25, we find Jesus instructing His disciples what they must do to be true disciples of Him. It reads, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Wow! If you “hang on to your life, you will lost it…” What a true and powerful statement.

So what are you going to do? Pick up your crosses. Not the crosses you where around neck. Picking up your cross is not a fashion statement, but an action of faith, will and complete trust. You are agreeing with God to pick up the cross as Jesus did and follow Him on His journey of eternal glory and salvation. I am not saying you are dyeing for all man’s sin as Jesus did. You are going to deny yourself and keep your eyes completely on the Lord, blinded to this worlds’ chaos and follow Him. You are dyeing to self by picking up your cross.

So, pick up your crosses, follow Jesus and you will be happy. It will not be easy. You will be tempted, you will be tested, you will suffer, but……. You will be happy!
AMEN!

Brother Jonathan

—————————————————————————————————————————————–Do need prayer today? Do you have something on your heart and you would like to share it? Then write to me, I am here for you as we walk in God’s will together.
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Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. – Mark 4:9

Charles Stanley, author of the book, “How to Listen to God,” once wrote, “I believe one of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn is how to listen to God. In the midst of our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, nothing more rewarding than hearing what God has to say. His voice waits to be heard and, having heard it, we are launched into the greatest, most exciting adventure we could ever imagine.”

This is absolutely true, when we wait to hear God’s voice. And, when we hear it, boy! What an adventure. It is in that moment in time, when we now have the God appointment path, or mission if you might call it, that we have a new sense of urgency of action. And, we are filled with the Holy Spirit as we take on, God’s Will.

In Mark 4, we find Jesus teaching the crowds of the farmer scattering seed. Jesus tells the us in Mark 4:3-8, “..A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

That is where we find Jesus telling us the importance in listening, when Mark writes in Mark 4:9, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” We must hear our Lord’s call on our lives by listening with our hearts, our souls, our minds, our everything and, we must also understand His message He has for us to do.

I believe, today, God wants us to hear His word, hear His voice by listening in silence, and without distraction. It is that moment when we become silent to this world’s distractions is when the Holy Spirit speaks to us through prayer, thought, feeling, signs, or however else He does, but become silent today, open your hearts to hear our Lord’s voice and listen with your hearts to understand His call.

God Bless you all as we listen to our Lord’s will.

Brother Jonathan

—————————————————————————————————————————————–Do need prayer today? Do you have something on your heart and you would like to share it? Then write to me, I am here for you as we walk in God’s will together.
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Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. – Mark 4:9

Charles Stanley, author of the book, “How to Listen to God,” once wrote, “I believe one of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn is how to listen to God. In the midst of our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, nothing more rewarding than hearing what God has to say. His voice waits to be heard and, having heard it, we are launched into the greatest, most exciting adventure we could ever imagine.”

This is absolutely true, when we wait to hear God’s voice. And, when we hear it, boy! What an adventure. It is in that moment in time, when we now have the God appointment path, or mission if you might call it, that we have a new sense of urgency of action. And, we are filled with the Holy Spirit as we take on, God’s Will.

In Mark 4, we find Jesus teaching the crowds of the farmer scattering seed. Jesus tells the us in Mark 4:3-8, “..A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

That is where we find Jesus telling us the importance in listening, when Mark writes in Mark 4:9, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” We must hear our Lord’s call on our lives by listening with our hearts, our souls, our minds, our everything and, we must also understand His message He has for us to do.

I believe, today, God wants us to hear His word, hear His voice by listening in silence, and without distraction. It is that moment when we become silent to this world’s distractions is when the Holy Spirit speaks to us through prayer, thought, feeling, signs, or however else He does, but become silent today, open your hearts to hear our Lord’s voice and listen with your hearts to understand His call.

God Bless you all as we listen to our Lord’s will.

Brother Jonathan

—————————————————————————————————————————————–Do need prayer today? Do you have something on your heart and you would like to share it? Then write to me, I am here for you as we walk in God’s will together.
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“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”— Matthew 6:33

When Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, ascended to the throne after his father died, he was overwhelmed by the task at hand. So he prayed, and God appeared to him in a dream and told him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5).

If God appeared to you tonight and told you to ask for whatever you wanted, what would you pray for? Fortunately, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people: “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9).

Because he had not asked for a long life, riches, or even the death of his enemies, God told Solomon He would give him just what he requested and more: “And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days” (1 Kings 3:13).

Solomon had his priorities in order. He sought God’s kingdom first, and all of those things were added to him.

And when we put God and His kingdom first, our lives will find the proper balance as well. When Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” what things was He speaking of? In context, these “things” are what you will wear, what you will drink, and what you will eat and everything we do. The basic issues of life will be taken care of by God when we put Him first…

Regardless of what you are going through… Have received… Plan to receive.. Or haven’t received. I want you to stop what you’re doing… Close your eyes… Fold your hands and bow your head. Pray to the Lord that He will give you what you need to do His will. When we truly ask this from our hearts, all will fall into place when you except the fact that we are not here because of accident or coincidence, the Lord has a special plan for you and all will be added to you in His time once we humble ourselves and are ready to receive.

As we part our ways today, remember… Be true to your heart and who you are. No matter what influence’s you, put aside the worldly wants and seek first the needs of God and you will live happy. Try asking someone how’s their day going today. A few kind words goes a long way on the road to recovery. Remember that.

Brother Jonathan R. L. Spann

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Do you have something on your mind and need a prayer? Then, please write me now and tell me about it. I am here for you!
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Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. – Mark 4:9

Charles Stanley, author of the book, “How to Listen to God,” once wrote, “I believe one of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn is how to listen to God. In the midst of our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, nothing more rewarding than hearing what God has to say. His voice waits to be heard and, having heard it, we are launched into the greatest, most exciting adventure we could ever imagine.”

This is absolutely true, when we wait to hear God’s voice. And, when we hear it, boy! What an adventure. It is in that moment in time, when we now have the God appointment path, or mission if you might call it, that we have a new sense of urgency of action. And, we are filled with the Holy Spirit as we take on, God’s Will.

In Mark 4, we find Jesus teaching the crowds of the farmer scattering seed. Jesus tells the us in Mark 4:3-8, “..A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

That is where we find Jesus telling us the importance in listening, when Mark writes in Mark 4:9, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” We must hear our Lord’s call on our lives by listening with our hearts, our souls, our minds, our everything and, we must also understand His message He has for us to do.

I believe, today, God wants us to hear His word, hear His voice by listening in silence, and without distraction. It is that moment when we become silent to this world’s distractions is when the Holy Spirit speaks to us through prayer, thought, feeling, signs, or however else He does, but become silent today, open your hearts to hear our Lord’s voice and listen with your hearts to understand His call.

God Bless you all as we listen to our Lord’s will.

Brother Jonathan

—————————————————————————————————————————————–Do need prayer today? Do you have something on your heart and you would like to share it? Then write to me, I am here for you as we walk in God’s will together.
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